Two NATO countries announced Wednesday that they are suspending military training exercises in Iraq following a U.S. warning of increased threats from Iran-affiliated forces in the region.

On the same day that the United States ordered all nonemergency U.S. employees to evacuate Iraq, Germany and the Netherlands said that they would temporarily suspend training for troops in the country, according to Reuters.

Germany has 160 soldiers deployed to Iraq who are involved in training Iraqi forces, and the Netherlands has 169 military and civilian personnel in the region. Dutch forces in Iraq have reportedly been ordered to stay indoors since Sunday.

A spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry said that training exercises could resume in the next few days, noting that it doesn’t have any independent knowledge of impending attacks by Iran.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees most military operations in the Middle East, issued a statement Tuesday indicating that troops working to contain ISIS have been put on “a high level of alert,” based on “credible and possibly imminent threats to U.S. forces in Iraq.”

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have increased in recent weeks. There has been a pointed pressure campaign by the U.S. to target Iran’s finances in order to cripple its ability to fund foreign terror organizations and proxies in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere. President Trump announced new sweeping sanctions against Iran’s metals industry last week and had previously announced that it would stop providing waivers to countries that import Iranian oil.

The U.S. deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the Middle East earlier this month in response to what national security adviser John Bolton described as “troubling and escalatory indications and warnings” from Iran.

Personal note: One thing I've learned about Trump is that he loves media attention. To that he has his meetings with his people and talks about what's going on and whose doing what. They give him suggestions and possible options. After that he goes viral and starts tweeting things and making statements on FOX. Hours later after it hits the public retractions begin and revisements to the contrary of what he just stated. This happens very often and this is why so much turmoil occurs. He needs to sit on this information for a day or two and think about the issues and reactions before going public. Retractions are almost always less that 24 hours after he makes his broadcast to the public. He needs to chill out and do more listening and then have another meeting with his people and see if anything has changed. Wait for more clarification he's too spontaneous with his tweets and emails. Stay away from the media for a few days - say nothing - ponder the ramifications of the end results once he makes or gives an order. He worries me because he's very insecure in many ways. Mr. Limelight is what his handle should be.

Boats

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Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.